Taking care of multiple senior loved ones could be a stressful task if you don’t plan out your days and build a great support system. You need to tend to all of your parents’ needs if you want them to stay healthy and happy. Here are a few tips and tactics that can help you provide better care to more than one aging parent.
Determine Both Parents’ Needs
Every senior has unique needs, which means they require different types of assistance. One of your parents might only want a little bit of companionship, while another might need ongoing help with everyday tasks. As early as possible, sit down with both of your parents and discuss their expectations for the coming years. You should most likely speak with them individually so they’re more comfortable being open and honest.
Caring for senior loved ones can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
Learn to Delegate
Even if you’re going to provide most of the care, you should still get some assistance from siblings, your spouse, professional caregivers, and medical specialists. Having a sibling stop by once or twice a week to share a meal with your parents can free up quite a bit of your time. Your support team should be as large as possible, and you need to fully trust everyone who’s going to be involved. Worrying about your aging parents whenever you take some time off could end up straining your emotional health.
Every senior has different needs when aging in place. Some simply need occasional assistance with household chores, while others may be managing serious illnesses and require more extensive live-in care. Anchorage seniors can count on Home Care Assistance to provide the in-home care they need and deserve.
Set Boundaries Early & Stick to Them
According to a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, untreated stress from caregiving can result in a compromised immune system, metabolic disorders, and depression. Caring for multiple seniors at the same time could exacerbate those issues, which is why you must set clear boundaries. Both of your parents and everyone on your support team need to respect your wishes when it comes to issues such as taking days off and setting aside time for yourself. You should be able to go to dinner with friends or spend a night relaxing at home a few times every month.
Utilize Respite Care
Family caregivers shouldn’t feel as if they’re completely responsible for their parents’ care. In addition to working with siblings or your spouse, you might also want to consider respite care. A professional caregiver can help you look after your parents for a few hours every week or completely take over all caregiving duties once every few days. With the extra time off, you can focus on your own wellbeing as well as your personal responsibilities. Taking breaks gives you a chance to keep things in perspective so you can provide the best possible care.
Providing care to senior family members can be a difficult task, especially if it’s managed alone. If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality senior care, Anchorage Home Care Assistance can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age. Call us at (907) 770-0907 today to talk to one of our compassionate Care Managers about our high-quality home care services.